This heartbreaking photo of an elderly street vendor hunched over a cart prompted strangers to donate over $260,000

An elderly popsicle vendor who’s set to receive more than
$136,000 in retirement donations from
kindly strangers says he will donate a chunk of his unexpected
windfall to people in need, and will set aside another part for
his grandkids.

In the meantime, 89-year old Fidencio Sánchez will continue
selling paletas from his pushcart.

Don Fidencio became internet famous over the weekend when a
local man posted a picture of the octogenarian pushing his cart
down the street in Chicago’s Little Village
neighborhood. The picture of him hunched over his heavy
popsicle cart was turned into an online fundraiser to scratch
together some “retirement” money for “Fidencio the paleta man.”

A GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign goal was set
at $3,000. Three days later, on Monday morning, the campaign
had already raised $136,000 from more than 6,000 donors.

“I’m going to give part of it to the church here, part of it to
the church in my native land, some of it will go to my
grandchildren, and certain people that I see have a need,” don
Fidencio told the local Univision
affiliate in Chicago.

Joel Cervantes Macias, the guy who started the GoFundMe
campaign, says he snapped the picture of Sánchez because he
wanted to show how hard people work. The photo generated so
much compassion on Facebook, he decided to turn it into a
crowdfunding campaign.

“It broke my heart seeing this man that should be enjoying
retirement still working at this age,” Cervantes wrote on
GoFundMe.

Don Fidencio’s story seems to have really strike a chord during
a contentious presidential election, where candidate Donald
Trump has built his campaign on demonizing Mexican immigrants.
Don Fidencio represents everything that is wrong with rhetoric.

Don Fidencio said his daughter, an only child, passed away on
July 23, saddling him and his wife with a new set of expenses.
Their daughter had been helping the family pay rent and utility bills, but since her death
Sanchez and his wife have to pick up the bills and the cost of
caring for their grandkids.

Don Fidencio’s wife said the donations coming from so many
people will make life easier for them.

“Now we see that we have many sons and grandsons,” Doña Eladia
said, raising her chin and pointing her lips towards a crowd of
people listening to her interview with local
reporters.

Doña Eladia also used to sell paletas but hurt her shoulder and
can no longer push the cart. So now she sells candy.

But Don Fidencio says he’ll keep his paleta cart in circulation
as long as he can.

“I have the motivation, I have the strength and I feel better
[working] than when I’m at the house,” he said.